After polling a bunch of moms and kids of moms here at Classic Accessories, we came up with our list of favorite gift items for our moms, and those of us who are moms ourselves, would like to receive on Mother’s Day. It was a unanimous across the board – and our Montlake Collection was the CLEAR winner.

Our Montlake Collection has everything for her favorite outdoor space – her patio!
Our Hammocks are perfect for one or cozy for two, provides an ideal place for relaxation.

Our Umbrellas are the perfect accessory for our patio this season. Keeping their look season after season, our patio umbrellas provide years of enjoyment in the shade while resisting stains and weather.

We have various selections of Montlake Cushions that will fit any style of furniture at any size providing a fashion-forward look with durable materials to make your patio space appealing and inviting whenever you want to go outdoors.

It’s easy to see why our Montlake Fadesafe Collection is our favorite for this Mother’s Day. We wish you many memories with the moms in your life and hope to be a part of them while you Discover More Time Outdoors this season.

During our day to day here at Classic Accessories, we have so many touch points from our end users to the products we develop that have to do with one word – FIT.

Our (stellar) customer service team takes calls from our end users, answers questions from our other retailers’ websites and sit through product training with our development and design teams just to be able to answer any question that may come up. When it comes to fit, we always start with how to measure. Taking the proper measurement is key to finding the right fit for your furniture, grill, RV, boat, vehicle, etc. Here’s a fun look on how to measure your patio pieces to find the right cover for your outdoor space:

If you have a question about how to properly measure your furniture that isn’t showcased above, please leave a comment below and we’ll be happy to help.

We keep it easy to pair up any mixed or matching sets in our Montlake Fadesafe Collection of cushions and umbrellas. Take 30% OFF umbrellas with discount code: FebUmbrella now through the end of the month.

Be the first this Spring to get on the water and away from the crowd on our best selling inflatable pontoon boats or float tubes. Which one fits your fishing style? Both are convenient, both are easy, both get you on the water hassle-free for more time spent casting and creating memories. Take 25% OFF our Pontoon Boats and Float Tubes with discount code: 18FishCA now through March 10th.

Author Dr. Seuss once said, “You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” This Valentine’s Day, show not only your significant other the love they deserve but to the investments sitting in your backyard.

This past June, some of our Business Development team was sent down to Lake Oswego in Oregon to do a photoshoot. I asked Dorik how that shoot went and was even able to get my hands on some candid shots of the team working to get the right angles. Here’s what Double D had to say about their trip down south:

Started to plan what furniture props we would need to bring, product we would need to order from the warehouse and how we would transport all this stuff to Oregon. Mutiple cars maybe or a big moving van?

Idea alert!: What if we were able to rent one of those Class B RVs. Yep, you guessed it, we would be trying to do a lifestyle RV photo as well:

Trip down to Oregon was pretty easy, a cool 3 hours. House was tricky to find but we all arrived safely.

The following 3 days are what I’m truly grateful for.

Photoshoots are challenging due to sunrise, sunset, bright sun, shadows, clouds, electrical failure and hunger just to name a few.

Up at 4:45AM with the last camera shot around 9pm.

These are long days and the team never stopped making things happen. Everyone helped:

Building furniture, staging furniture, setting up a cover collection shot, steaming wrinkles from fabric, discussing where to shoot the next shot, filming new video ideas, making it rain and somehow put together food at the end of the day. (thank you Heather!)”

Check out the final photos from the shoot:

Take advantage of our 25% off our items NOW through the end of September with discount code: PREFALL at checkout on classicaccessories.com

We know that even through Summer, keeping your grill cover handy at a moments notice is always a good idea to prevent elements like rust from damaging one of your favorite pieces of patio furniture to gather around. Sometimes, a Summer Shower means torrential rain, sometimes it just enough to water the geraniums. We kept both of these scenarios at the top of mind when designing our Madrona Collection’s key feature: taped seams.

Delina Wells is the designer behind our Madrona Collection. (More from Delina and how she likes to enjoy sunny weekends in Seattle here!) When asked about the key element for this collection, she let us know that, “All of the critical seams in the Madrona collection are seam taped to prevent water seepage.

The vents and handles are patched on the covers in order to reduce the number of seams and design lines. We seam taped all of the patched on elements as well to help keep rain out and furniture protected..”

Delina puts in a ton of research into her inspiration for colors, fabrics and features and when asked what she brainstormed for Madrona, she quickly replied:

“The colors of the Madrona Collection were inspired by a lush lake front home with lots of large Madrona trees and window boxes filled with red geranium. These inspirational colors are evident in the details of the designer striped handles and webbing attachments.”

The Madrona RainProof Collection by Classic Accessories keeps your grill safe giving you peace of mind for years to come. Our RainProof fabric combines style and durability with taped seam construction to keep rain and weather out in all conditions.

When people talk about BBQ in America, the discussion typically takes a turn towards location. Grilling and smoking are time-honored traditions that have many roots. Some states are divided by sauces, some by smoke, some by rubs and so on. As much as we can chat about the best recipe or our favorite pit to grab a bite, here at Classic Accessories, we take location a little more seriously than a sauce debate. We know the elements can vary drastically just in our lower 48. Since we are in the cover business, we look at what mother nature is serving up season after season if broken down by three of her favorite styles:
When we think of humidity, we think hot, tropical days and nights with moisture in the air that feels heavy and thick. Napoleon Grills reminds us that, “humid can also mean damp, like a foggy day in London,” which we may see more than our fair share of in the Pacific Northwest. Our grill covers are designed with air vents that keep weather out while providing maximum ventilation and minimum condensation. Our covers are also designed to not cover wheel or leg bottoms that hang to the ground. This prevents the cover from sitting in any standing water that is common in coastal climates where heavy rain and snow can be a seasonal detriment. Water, in any form, is a damaging element to outdoor kitchens and we have introduced taped seams into our NEW Madrona RainProof Grill Covers to further keep moisture from barbecues and grills

Dry climates pose another threat to your grill over time with damaging UV exposure and lack of moisture. A cover will prevent dust and debris from coating the grill and finding its way into catch pans where fires can easily be started. When we say our covers are designed for all elements, we took these environments into consideration.

Here are some quotes from various BBQ forums on covering grills:

One of the best things about grills is that they are meant to be used outdoors, so they are built with some of the toughest materials. Even though price tags vary by brand, style and size, all grills have their weaker points as well. This is where a cover can come in to extend the life of cheaper metals and help keep some of the accessories like side tables, tank doors and controls working like new.

From harsh weather to daily use of your grill, you always want to have it ready to fire up at a moment’s notice. There are many tips and tricks to cleaning your grills between parties or between seasons. From informative videos to how-to articles, the last step is always the same no matter if it’s for the day or for the Winter … put a cover on it.
75% of all us adults, or just big kids, own a grill or smoker. That’s a lot when you think about all the different regions. That’s also a lot when you think about all the different kinds of styles of BBQ and grills out there. What’s more is the style of outdoor kitchens and rooms we have to think about too. From small balconies to lavish outdoor kitchens, we know style is one thing you think about when purchasing a cover. Sure the features of the cover are instrumental to how the cover will perform for you, but we know that your grill is just as much a part of your outdoor decor as your furniture is.

We have over 10 different collections of covers, all with unique designer colorways to features. A big part of the design process here at Classic Accessories is keeping our ideas fresh and on trend. One of the biggest we see is the need for design and function have never been more apparent. We are seeing grills with numerous handle, color and finish options. Ryan Bloom, of Urban Bonfire, states that designers that choose to combine “raw cooking power with beauty see the winning combination.” We like to think that our designs nod to both camps. We have the strength and durability built into our covers with the designer features that compliment any outdoor space. Making the choice to cover you grill, barbecue or smoker should be an easy one. Finding the right size and style should be just as easy, and that’s where Classic Accessories can be a part of the solution.

Here’s to gathering around the grill this August with friends and family.
We hope you end the day, or season, with Classic Accessories.

We love the outdoors. Everything from lakes to the mountains. From Winter to Summer. At Classic Accessories we have teams of people who design for all seasons. Whether that means our customers who play host to Summer BBQs, to those that like to party in the fresh powder. We design for them, and for us.

Sometimes it’s the destination, and sometimes it’s just right outside your window. That’s why we work through all the products that will get you there, or simply give you peace of mind to protect them while you are enjoying the moments away from home.
Today we are reminded of a simple fact, something worth sharing with friends and family.
It’s the little things in life that bring us the most joy, and we are very thankful that we can be part of your great adventures in the great outdoors – at home or on the way! We are saying thanks for the rest of this LOVE week by taking 20% off site-wide on classicaccessories.com

Charlie D’Amato is our Senior Manager of Product Development and Design. He spends his days in the office analyzing sales, market, and trend data in Classic’s product categories to propose new product development projects. Charlie also oversees our Product Development Team with defining project scope, product line planning, and development project management. He also oversees Product Design team in sourcing and development of raw materials, color palette development, and product design and development from concept to production. You can imagine the amount of creative work that ebbs and flows from our departments here at Classic Accessories. Charlie gets to be the guy in charge of making sure all of us creatives stay within our coloring lines and in a very timely manner. He does so effortlessly. He calls Vashon Island home here in the great Northwest and gets on a ferry every day to come into work.

We get to live “life on the island” through his stories of Vashon and his many adventures working in the yard which is what he shared with us below:

This weekend was so amazing! I got lots of time out in the garden.

For the past two weekends I have been clearing blackberry vines from this area of my property (These are close-up views) you can just see the fabulous redwood on the left of the first picture – this tree marks an entrance to an old growth wooded trail:

This is a picture from the early spring before the leaves came out – it’s easier to see the position of the hardscaping here:

These are old pictures, so don’t get too excited! 

However I am not finished with the physical work yet. When I clear away the brush piles I’ll take another “After” picture to use for my next post.

So this is an area that we named “Devil’s Hole” on our property! It was overgrown with noxious weeds, and completely inaccessible! It actually blocked off a beautiful wooded corner of our lot which is multi-layered and could be groomed into a beautiful park-like garden.

So, the way I see this outdoor space is like a strolling garden, full of pathways and steps to other levels which will provide “moments” in our garden landscape – views of the house, fenced gardens, and terraces. For example, here are some pictures of the possible views – you can see the unfinished garden beds in the foreground and our lawn and home in the distance:

Our president, Brian Bozlinski, just interviewed Jesse Tombs of Alison Eventsin San Francisco. Their very fashion forward business model states that they are looking to “create that completely original, utterly unforgettable event. But most importantly, they want it to be a reflection of their clients and bring out the best in them.”

Classic Accessories is based out of Kent, WA (South of Seattle) and when Summer hits, we are ready for outdoor potlucks, BBQs, company events, etc. We pride ourselves on our outdoor culture and wanted to see what event planners have to offer in terms of outdoor spaces to hold our next event. Here is what Jesse had to say:

BRIAN: What are some questions to consider when you select an outdoor venue for corporate events?

JESSE: Is the caterer in house or can you use an outside caterer?

What does the venue offer? Chairs, tables, bars, AV, lighting etc?

Does the venue offer security?

Is the cut off time for music earlier as it is outside?

Do they own heat lamps or heaters you can use?

Do they have a fire pit?

BRIAN: How do you plan and arrange for seating and lighting?

JESSE: Seating – it greatly depends on the type of event. If it is a seated dinner, we suggest seating for 30% of the guest count for cocktails, 100% of the guest count for dinner, and 20% of the guest count for after dinner/dancing. If it is a standing reception with stations or a buffet, we suggest seating for 70% of the guest count for the event.

Lighting – greatly depends on the venue, but we always suggest highlighting special interests, like design details, the dance floor, bars, and food stations.

BRIAN: What kind of décor will endure any weather?

JESSE: Potted plants – we always suggest plants and hedges for outdoor events that look great and can withstand wind and rain.

BRIAN: How do you protect the space from the environment and weather (rain, heat, covers, etc.)?

JESSE: Plan ahead, get a tent on hold 30 days prior to your event, add tent walls and decide on the day of the event if you really want them to be installed. Always have heaters on hold–you can always decline them upon deliver.

BRIAN: How should people store equipment when it’s not in use (covers, etc.)?

JESSE: Depends on the venue – but if you have a truck on site you can always store it in the truck. You can also store in empty event spaces, loading docks or alley ways.

BRIAN: Beyond picnics and bouncy houses: what creative themes have you found to be especially successful?

JESSE: Bring in animals, people love horses. Custom tenting–get creative and bring in teepees and the like. Cook outside–make the kitchen visible and use bbq setup and outdoor kitchens to add interest. Hot air balloons are a great photo op and a huge way to add impact.

BRIAN: What should corporate planners avoid?

JESSE: Color pallets – work with a story, not a company’s existing color story (think outside of the box).

Tell a story with the design, menu, and entertainment for the event.

Get away from tech – make the event a tech-free event and take peoples’ cell phones so they have to be present in the moment and connect.